Insects that disappeared in the cold came out again during last week’s warm weather. On Wednesday I found a western conifer-seed bug on my front porch.
Formerly restricted to the western U.S., the western conifer-seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis, WCSB) has spread across North America, to Europe and South America. At 1/2 to 3/4 inches this “true bug” sucks the sap of developing pine cones and the pulp of pine seeds.
WCSB can see pine cones from afar in glowing infrared colors so this one was probably lured by the cones on my neighbor’s blue spruce.
After he ate, he needed to find shelter. Wednesday’s warmth was followed by record rain on Thursday and cold wind on Friday.
Western conifer-seed bugs overwinter in a bark crevice, a dead tree, or a house. My house. I didn’t know they came inside until I researched this article. By then the bug had disappeared.
Western conifer-seed bugs stink when they’re disturbed. … Great. I can hardly wait.
(photo by Kate St. John)
I saw one on my porch last week and wondered what it was.
Looks kind of like what we call “stink bugs” in upstate NY, but more colorful.
Btw, in case this is new to people here (it was to me!):
Story at the link:
https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/australian-raptors-start-fires-to-flush-out-prey